My ball-marker moved before I put my ball back — what now?

No penalty if it was an accident — just put your ball back where it was (or mark that spot). If you or your opponent in match play lifted or moved the marker on purpose, it's one penalty stroke. Either way, the ball goes back to its original spot.

What to do right away

If your ball-marker gets moved — by you, your opponent, a playing partner, the wind, a bird, anything — before you've put your ball back, you have to put the ball on its original spot. If you don't know the exact spot, estimate it as best you can. You can also just put a marker down to mark that original spot instead of placing the ball. The key is: the ball (or a marker) goes back to where it was.

When you take a penalty stroke

You (or your opponent in match play) get one penalty stroke if you deliberately lift the marker or cause it to move while the ball is still lifted. Accidental nudges don't count — the penalty only applies when it's intentional. If you're not sure whether it was deliberate, the default is no penalty.

The exceptions that wipe out the penalty

There's a big carve-out: anytime Rule 9.4b or 9.5b says there's no penalty for lifting your ball or accidentally moving it, the same free pass applies to your ball-marker. Common examples: you're searching for your ball and accidentally move the marker, or you're taking relief and the marker shifts. In those cases, no penalty — just replace the ball or mark the spot.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You're searching for your ball and accidentally move the marker (Rule 9.4b exception) → No penalty — just replace the ball on its original spot or mark that spot.
• You're taking relief under a Rule and the marker moves (Rule 9.5b exception) → No penalty — replace the ball or mark the spot.
• Natural forces (wind, gravity, water) move the marker → No penalty to anyone — replace the ball on its original spot or mark that spot.

Frequently asked questions

What if I can't remember the exact spot where my ball was?

Estimate it as best you can. The Rules accept your honest best guess — just don't give yourself a better lie than you had.

My playing partner accidentally kicked my marker. Penalty?

No penalty. Only you or your opponent in match play can incur the one-stroke penalty for moving the marker. A partner or outside influence moving it is just bad luck — replace the ball or mark the spot.

I picked up my marker thinking I'd already replaced the ball. What happens?

If the ball wasn't back yet, you lifted the marker before replacement. That's one penalty stroke unless an exception applies. Put the ball back on its original spot (estimated if needed).

What if I play the ball from where it ended up after the marker moved?

That's playing from a wrong place — general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play). Always replace the ball or mark the original spot first.

Does the same rule apply if my marker is a coin, a tee, or a poker chip?

Yes. Anything you're using to mark the spot counts as your ball-marker under Rule 9.7.